Latest news with #MN-S
Hamilton Spectator
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Back to Batoche wraps up successful celebration of Métis culture
Back to Batoche opened the final day of celebrations with the procession of the President's Cabin to the graveyard at the Batoche Historic Site. Back to Batoche Days are held annually to commemorate the 1885 Northwest Resistance. It has grown into one of the largest Métis cultural gatherings in Canada. Métis Nation Saskatchewan President Glen McCallum said after the procession that Métis history and the history of the Northwest Resistance is important to celebrate. 'If you take a look at the history of the Métis Nation and Batoche, this is a very interesting place. It's got rich history,' McCallum said. He said that the resistance was defeated, but the culture is still alive. '(Louis) Riel fought here and stood up for the rights of Métis, and to be able to see people gathering here from right across Canada.' According to estimates, on Sunday nearly 40,000 people attended Back to Batoche from July 17 to July 20. McCallum said the annual event helps tell the story of the Metis people. It also helps introduce Metis culture to the rest of Canada. 'That story goes out there, and it hits home to us,' he explained. 'There were people arriving just for the day. I heard about it and they said, 'We're not Metis. We're non-Indigenous. We heard about it. We're here. We're going to come back.' This has to be shared because it's for everyone.' McCalllum said working with governments has helped the Saskatchewan Métis get land back. He said there are roughly 1,900 acres across the river and on the Batoche side. 'We have the historic site working side by side,' McCallum said. 'We're getting crowded, but we're good at that because of the good story that's leaving Batoche with the people that come to visit. It's going to continue to grow.' The weekend included cultural celebrations, music, a jigging contest on Sunday, and sports like slow pitch, the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association (CPCA), and a rodeo. The last day of CPCA races were cancelled due to rain. 'I look forward to the future in regards to the well-being of our Métis people and the celebration that we have here,' McCallum said. McCallum added that MN-S continues to work with the Federal and Provincial governments, industry and institutions to keep the MN-S name present. During the weekend Premier Scott Moe and other dignitaries came to the annual celebration with Moe speaking at Friday's opening ceremonies. McCallum said he had a very good meeting with Moe, and is confident the MN-S will continue to work well with the province. Going forward, McCallum expects the MN-S to sign harvesting agreements with the government. He said they are also working on health and economic development agreements. 'There are a lot of things we're going to be doing even with the First Nations in Southern Saskatchewan, (and) we have five reserves that we work with in Northern Saskatchewan,' McCallum said. He gave examples of several North Saskatchewan entities like Cameco and Dennison Mines that the MN-S is working with. 'They're all coming to hear us out and hear our story, but more importantly, sign agreements to be able to benefit from what's going on in Saskatchewan,' he said. The Procession pays tribute to those who lost their lives in the Battle of Batoche and are buried at the cemetery on the Historic Site. The Battle of Batoche was a decisive event in Métis history. The Battle of Batoche saw an alliance of First Nations and Métis people against the Canadian militia as part of the North-West Rebellion. The militia was victorious in the battle, which led to the capture of Métis leader Louis Riel, who was eventually executed. McCallum said it is important to remember that history. 'We have to remind people this is actually what happened and to be happy,' he explained. 'We can't be sad all the time. It was a sad moment, but at the same time life continues and the Métis people keep growing and the more that we grow, the more we get to participate in other areas with Metis and First Nations and non-Indigenous people. That's a beautiful thing to see.' After the procession made its way to the cemetery there was a ceremony that included people bringing their Metis sashes to be place on the gravesite. One young boy volunteered his sash which caused a large group of people to give their sashes to the memorial. The MN-S also partners with school divisions in Saskatchewan, including the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division to grow the Michif language. Saskatchewan Rivers offers the Michif language at Queen Mary and St. Louis Public School. McCallum said that MN-S has been able to tap into both Catholic and Public school divisions. 'It's through those organizations that represent schools from elementary to high school, and those are the places that we have to negotiate with, sign agreements, and support them in regards to carrying the language forward,' McCallum said. 'We need to promote it (Michif) more, (and) tell the story of how important that language is.' McCallum said his weekend was busy with interviews and sharing the Métis story. 'It is beautiful. I like people coming to see and to be able to be on the ground and ask these questions and to be able to work together as Canadians. Let's try as much as we can to be able to understand each other more, no matter where we come from, First Nations, Métis, Inuit or non-Indigenous. Let's work together and somehow come with a plan that works for everyone,' McCallum said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. 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CBC
28-02-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Supreme Court sides with Métis Nation-Saskatchewan in land consultation battle with Sask. government
Canada's highest court has unanimously dismissed an appeal from the Saskatchewan government concerning a dispute with Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) over whether the province properly consulted on a uranium project in northwestern Saskatchewan. The legal battle was sparked when NexGen Energy Ltd., based in Vancouver, applied to the Government of Saskatchewan for permits for a field mineral exploration project in March 2021. The project is located near Patterson Lake, which is about 636 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. According to court documents, the Saskatchewan government and the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) met and discussed the project, knowing it affected the rights of Métis people in the area. Saskatchewan later issued mineral exploration permits to the company in July the same year. MN-S said the provincial Ministry of Environment failed to properly consult the nation and sought a judicial review of the Ministry's actions. The criteria for that review are what was under dispute at the Supreme Court. After Friday's ruling, that review will now proceed through the court as it was originally filed. The question before the Supreme Court was whether the judicial review should have to consider whether the province has a duty to consult on land that MN-S has previously made claims on, even if those claim were stayed and never resolved. The Saskatchewan government argued that because MN-S and the province are already embroiled in a separate case about consultation on asserted land claims, the judicial review should not also consider that duty. The province alleged it was an abuse of process because multiple cases would be centred on the same issue. A full panel of nine Supreme Court judges heard the case in November 2024. In their decision, issued Friday, Justice Malcolm Rowe wrote that having two or more ongoing legal cases that involve similar issues does not necessarily meet the bar for an abuse of process. The Supreme Court decision said there is a potential that two of the cases brought forward by MN-S could conclude with different rulings on the province's duty to consult, but that it could be addressed through case management. Rowe also wrote that Indigenous litigants can be at fault for an abuse of process, but legal cases about vindicating Aboriginal rights have to be approached within its "unique context." "Court procedures should facilitate, not impede, the just resolution of Aboriginal claims," the decision read, in part. While speaking at a news conference Friday, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said the required engagement needs to happen with Indigenous communities and Indigenous people. "I think we've come a long way in that space, but there's always more work to do. So we commit to doing that and working alongside [MN-S] President McCallum, whom I talk to often," he said. Arriving at the Supreme Court Saskatchewan has a policy stating it does not consult on asserted land claims. Saskatchewan agrees that the Métis people have rights to hunt, trap and fish for food on the land, which led to the consultation, but argues the MN-S does not have commercial rights to the land. A judge at the Court of Queen's Bench (now called Court of King's Bench) sided with the Saskatchewan government in its decision, but that decision was overturned by the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court of Canada granted the provincial government a leave to appeal the case in December 2023 and the case was heard in November 2024. MN-S says it's not seeking to prove its land claim, but that the judicial review should still look at whether the province failed to consult on the land MN-S sought to claim. A landmark ruling in 2004 found that governments have a legal duty to consult Aboriginal communities, even if a land claim is unproven. The Saskatchewan government is arguing to the Supreme Court that the MN-S is bringing multiple actions against the government about the same legal issue, calling it an abuse of process. MN-S disagrees, arguing the judicial review is distinct from past cases. In the background In 1994, MN-S brought a statement of claim against Saskatchewan and Canada, seeking rights to "large areas" of the province, according to court documents. Those lands include the place where NexGen applied to explore. That action was stayed in 2005 because of a dispute about document disclosure. The judge said MN-S could lift the stay in the future, but MN-S has not applied to do so. In 2020, MN-S challenged a government policy from 2010 that, according to court documents, "reiterated that claims to Aboriginal title and commercial rights would not be 'accepted' by the provincial government," and would not be subject to the Crown's duty to consult. That case is still ongoing.
CBC
28-02-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Sask. government, Métis Nation-Saskatchewan await Supreme Court decision Friday in land consultation battle
The Saskatchewan government and Métis Nation-Saskatchewan are expecting a decision from Canada's highest court on Friday. It stems from an ongoing duel over consultation on a uranium project in northwestern Saskatchewan. The legal battle was sparked when NexGen Energy Ltd., based in Vancouver, applied to the Government of Saskatchewan for permits for a field mineral exploration project in March 2021. The project is located near Patterson Lake, about 636 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. According to court documents, the Saskatchewan government and the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) met and discussed the project, knowing it affected the rights of Métis people in the area. Saskatchewan later issued mineral exploration permits to the company in July the same year. MN-S said the meeting that happened were not sufficient consultation and sought a judicial review of the provincial Ministry of Environment's actions. That review has not yet happened, as the two parties have been arguing over what should be included. The question before the Supreme Court is whether the judicial review should have to consider whether the province has a duty to consult on land that MN-S has previously made on claim on, even though that claim was stayed and has not been decided. Saskatchewan has a policy stating it does not consult on asserted land claims. Saskatchewan agrees that the Métis people have rights to hunt, trap and fish for food on the land, which led to the consultation, but argues the MN-S does not have commercial rights to the land. A judge at the Court of Queen's Bench (now called Court of King's Bench) sided with the Saskatchewan government in its decision, but that decision was overturned by the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court of Canada granted the provincial government a leave to appeal the case in December 2023 and the case was heard in November 2024. MN-S says it's not seeking to prove its land claim, but that the judicial review should still look at whether the province failed to consult on the land MN-S sought to claim. A landmark ruling in 2004 found that governments have a legal duty to consult Aboriginal communities, even if a land claim is unproven. The Saskatchewan government is arguing to the Supreme Court that the MN-S is bringing multiple actions against the government about the same legal issue, calling it an abuse of process. MN-S disagrees, arguing the judicial review is distinct from past cases. In the background In 1994, MN-S brought a statement of claim against Saskatchewan and Canada, seeking rights to "large areas" of the province, according to court documents. Those lands include the place where NexGen applied to explore. That action was stayed in 2005 because of a dispute about document disclosure. The judge said MN-S could lift the stay in the future, but MN-S has not applied to do so. In 2020, MN-S challenged a government policy from 2010 that, according to court documents, "reiterated that claims to Aboriginal title and commercial rights would not be 'accepted' by the provincial government," and would not be subject to the Crown's duty to consult. That case is still ongoing.
